Headed to a protest? You might want to leave your cell phone at home
A police helicopter circling over protests of immigration raids in Los Angeles offered a chilling warning to the demonstrators below. "I have all of you on camera," the pilot announced. "I'm going to come to your house."
The declaration, whether true or not, raised extreme concerns among civil liberties and digital privacy groups, who reiterated the public has a First Amendment right to protest. It also served as a reminder of the vast arsenal of surveillance technology used by law enforcement to monitor these protests ― including devices like license plate readers, drones, cell site simulators, security cameras and more.
Surveillance: Government is trying hard to put more eyes on us in NY. How are they doing it?
Locally, protesters are expected to gather across Rochester and Monroe County on June 14 to push back on policies from the Trump administration. The protests are part of a nationwide effort being called "No Kings Day." If you're planning to attend, you might be wondering ― how can I protect myself from surveillance?
Here are some basic tips from civil rights and privacy organizations like the New York Civil Liberties Union and the Electronic Frontier Foundation:
Consider leaving your phone at home. "When you come to a protest like this, it makes sense to bring a camera with you, to bring a phone with you, to make sure you can record it ― you can get the message out. The message is super important," the ACLU's Daniel Kahn Gillmor said in a 2020 video about privacy at protests. "But those same phones, those same cameras, can cause problems when the data gets into the hands of people who you are against."
If you must bring a phone:
Turn off all your location services or make sure it is on airplane mode. Your phone transmits radio signals that can help police tie you to an event. Don't forget to check other devices like your smartwatch.
Disable features that allow you to unlock your phone using your face or fingerprint and set a strong password. This will make it more difficult for police to unlock your phone without your permission.
Encrypt and back up your data. This will protect the information on your phone if it is confiscated by police, lost or stolen. Consider using an encrypted messaging service like Signal to communicate with others during the protest.
Consider walking or biking to a protest. Automated license plate readers create a time-stamped, searchable database of cars moving through specific intersections. Police can use those images to track how you got to a protest and prove you were there. Similarly, public transportation systems have the ability to track people's movements through transit cards or credit card payments.
Wear a face mask, hat or sunglasses. Conceal any distinguishing features like tattoos or bright hair colors. EFF suggests you dress in dark, monochrome colors that will help you blend into a crowd. Face accessories will make it more difficult for police to identify you if they are using facial recognition technology.
Be mindful of other protesters in your photos and videos, especially if live-streaming the protest on social media. Avoid tagging or posting images of people without their permission, or edit the photos to blur out faces and other identifying features.
"Law enforcement frequently uses social media and surveillance tools to monitor and identify protesters — especially those expressing dissenting views,' said Justin Harrison, a senior attorney with the NYCLU. 'New Yorkers should take precautions against intrusive surveillance when protesting: leave electronic devices at home, disable location tracking, and avoid using face recognition features. All New Yorkers deserve to mobilize for their rights without fear of the government's prying eyes.'
— Kayla Canne covers community safety for the Democrat and Chronicle with a focus on police accountability, government surveillance and how people are impacted by violence. Follow her on Twitter @kaylacanne and @bykaylacanne on Instagram. Get in touch at kcanne@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Should you bring your cell phone to a protest? What you should know
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